If your back pain feels deep, stiff, or worse with movement, the cause may be inflammation in the small joints of your thoracic spine. Thoracic facet injections are a minimally invasive option designed to treat this pain at its source by calming joint inflammation and reducing nerve irritation.
At Advanced Pain Medical Group, these injections are performed using advanced fluoroscopy-guided spine injections to deliver precise, targeted relief without surgery.
The Thoracic Spine & The Joints That Control Movement
The thoracic spine is the middle portion of your back, located between the neck and lower back. It provides stability, protects vital organs, and allows controlled rotation and bending of the upper body. Along the back of this region are small stabilizing joints called thoracic facet joints.
These joints guide motion and prevent excessive movement. When healthy, they work quietly in the background. When irritated, they can become a significant source of pain.
How Facet Joint Inflammation Triggers Back Pain
Inflammation within the thoracic facet joints can irritate surrounding nerves and tissues, leading to thoracic facet joint pain – also referred to as facet syndrome or thoracic facet-mediated pain. This pain often feels deep and aching and may worsen with twisting, bending backward, or prolonged sitting. Stiffness, reduced range of motion, and pain between the shoulder blades are common.
How Persistent Thoracic Spine Pain Affects Daily Movement
Persistent mid-back pain can quietly disrupt nearly every part of your day. Sitting at a desk, twisting your upper body, taking a deep breath, or even sleeping comfortably can become difficult when pain settles deep in the mid and upper back. Because this type of pain is often hard to pinpoint, you might spend months – or longer – searching for answers.
When Mid & Upper Back Pain Won’t Go Away
Ongoing back pain is more than an inconvenience. It can limit your mobility, affect posture, and interfere with work and daily routines. When rest, physical therapy, or medications no longer help, targeted thoracic spine pain injections offer a next step in effective back pain management.
Did You Know? Thoracic facet-related pain is commonly overlooked, even though it also plays a major role in chronic upper back discomfort.
What Makes Thoracic Facet Joint Pain Different
Unlike muscle strain, facet-related pain tends to persist and flare with specific movements. It may also refer pain into the shoulders or upper back, making it difficult to distinguish from other conditions. Degenerative changes such as thoracic arthritis or thoracic spondylosis are frequent contributors, especially as your spine experiences natural wear and tear over time.
While thoracic facet joint pain affects the mid-back, similar joint inflammation can also cause neck or lower back symptoms. These may be treated with cervical facet injections for neck-related facet joint pain or lumbar facet injections for lower back facet joint pain.
Why Precise Diagnosis Leads To Better Pain Relief
Research evaluating diagnostic thoracic facet joint nerve blocks has found that thoracic facet joints are a significant contributor to chronic mid and upper back pain. It accounts for symptoms in approximately one-third to nearly half of individuals with chronic back pain. These findings reinforce the role of nerve blocks in accurately diagnosing thoracic facet-mediated pain.
How Thoracic Facet Injections Calm Pain At The Source
Thoracic facet joint injections deliver a combination of anti-inflammatory medication and local anesthetic directly into the affected joints. This reduces spine joint inflammation, soothes irritated nerves, and interrupts pain signals before they spread. Because the medication is delivered precisely where the pain originates, this approach often provides more effective relief than oral medications alone.
When Bilateral Injections Are Recommended
If your pain affects both sides of the thoracic spine, bilateral thoracic facet joint injections may be recommended. Treating both sides during the same session can help restore balance, reduce widespread discomfort, and improve your overall movement in the mid & upper back.
Using Diagnostic Nerve Blocks To Confirm The Source Of Pain
In some cases, diagnostic thoracic nerve blocks are used to confirm that the facet joints are the primary source of pain. These injections temporarily numb the nerves supplying the joints. Significant pain relief following these block helps pinpoint the diagnosis and guides the most effective next step in treatment.
This diagnostic precision is a key component of modern interventional spine procedures.
How These Injections Support Long-Term Back Pain Management
Thoracic facet injections are not just about short-term relief. By reducing inflammation and improving movement, they can support physical therapy, posture correction, and daily activity – key elements of long-term chronic back pain management. For many, this approach offers a meaningful alternative to spine surgery.
Signs You May Benefit From Thoracic Spine Pain Injections
- Persistent Mid-Back Pain Lasting Weeks Or Months
- Pain Worsened By Twisting Or Extending The Spine
- Limited Improvement With Conservative Treatments
- Suspected Thoracic Facet Joint Pain Or Facet Syndrome
A thorough evaluation with your pain management provider helps determine whether this treatment aligns with your unique condition and goals.
What Happens During A Fluoroscopy-Guided Thoracic Injection
Upper back pain injections are performed using real-time x-ray guidance for accuracy and safety. This procedure typically takes less than an hour, and you return home the same day.
- You Are Positioned Comfortably
- The Skin Is Numbed With Local Anesthetic
- A Thin Needle Is Guided Precisely To The Target Joint Using Fluoroscopy
- Medication Is Injected Directly Into The Joint
How Long Relief Can Last & What Comes Next
Relief duration varies depending on the degree of joint inflammation and underlying spinal changes. Some people experience improvement for weeks or months, while others benefit from repeat injections as part of ongoing thoracic arthritis treatment or thoracic spondylosis pain relief. Your individual care plan is adjusted based on how your body responds.
A Non-Surgical Option For Persistent Upper Back Pain
As an effective mid-back pain treatment without surgery, thoracic facet injections offer a minimally invasive option with proven benefits. When combined with other therapies, they can help restore comfort, mobility, and confidence in movement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thoracic Facet Injections
This back pain management option is used to treat inflammation or degeneration in the thoracic facet joints, including mid-back pain, upper back stiffness, and pain related to thoracic arthritis or spondylosis.
Facet-related pain is often worse with twisting or bending backward, and may feel deep or aching. Diagnostic thoracic nerve blocks are commonly used to confirm the source of your discomfort.
No. These injections are minimally invasive interventional spine procedures and are commonly used as an alternative to surgery.
Facet injections target inflammation inside the joint, while nerve blocks numb the nerves carrying pain signals. Both play important roles in diagnosis and treatment.
Most people experience minimal discomfort. Local anesthesia and imaging guidance help keep the procedure comfortable.
Yes. Thoracic facet joint pain can refer pain into the shoulders. Reducing joint inflammation often improves associated shoulder discomfort.
Non-Surgical Relief For Back Pain In Southern California
If chronic upper or mid-back pain is interfering with your life, thoracic facet injections in Los Angeles, Kern County, and Ventura County may provide the targeted relief you need. Advanced Pain Medical Group offers precision-guided thoracic facet joint injections designed to reduce inflammation, improve movement, and help you return to daily activities with greater comfort.
Schedule a consultation today and take the next step toward lasting back pain relief without surgery.